Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, Ivanhoe Pictures Merge to Form SK Global

Indie production company Sidney Kimmel Entertainment has merged with Hong Kong’s Ivanhoe Pictures to form SK Global, the companies announced Wednesday in a joint statement.

SK Global will pursue opportunities to produce and finance film and television content internationally. The China Cultural and Entertainment Fund, a private equity firm, is taking a substantial equity position in SK Global.

SKE Chairman and CEO Sidney Kimmel and Ivanhoe Pictures Chairman Robert Friedland will be co-chairmen of the new entity.

The two companies started to work together on a slate of local-language productions after Ivanhoe Co-Founder John Penotti introduced Kimmel and Friedland in 2015. SK Global will become the parent entity to both existing production companies, which will continue to release film and TV projects under their respective labels.

SK Global will control the more than 75 movies in the combined libraries of both companies, including Best Picture nominee “Hell or High Water.” Several films in SK Global’s library are being considered for international local-language adaptations on film and TV.

“Our recent collaborations have been immensely successful,” Kimmel and Friedland said in a joint statement. “Putting our respective operations under a larger tent has been an organic process. A unified SK Global gives us the strengthened operations and assets to grow our individual and collective businesses, and to expand the scope and creation of our international content. Initially, we have focused on the United States and Asian markets, but soon we will announce projects in Europe and Latin America where we are actively developing and financing a diverse slate of film and TV projects that will be the subject of forthcoming announcements.”

17 Movies We're Dying to See in 2017, From 'Beauty and the Beast' to 'Dunkirk'

Scan TheWrap's list of our most anticipated movies of the upcoming year

March 10: "Kong: Skull Island"

The new iteration of the ginormous ape boasts a stellar cast of Brie Larson, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, John C. Reilly and Jason Mitchell. And the trailers have looked stunning (and terrifying) so far.

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March 17: "Beauty and the Beast"

Yes, Disney is producing a lot of live-action version of their original IP, but after the success of "The Jungle Book" last year, we can't wait for this one. Also, Emma Watson is the perfect Belle and, based on what we've seen from trailers, it will be magical.

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April 14: "The Fate of the Furious"

Who doesn't love a good ol' "Fast and the Furious" movie? However, this one will mark the first full movie without Paul Walker, who was included in the last film through CGI.

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May 3: "Logan"

"Logan" will be Hugh Jackman's final performance as the famous "X-Men" character, which many call the best character in the franchise. It is also a coveted role that has defined Jackman's career for 20 years. But "Logan" will offer a new twist on the franchise -- Logan is older, and his powers are fading.

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May 5: "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2"

The first "Guardians" film was well-received both critically and commercially, so it's about time Marvel fans are treated to a sequel. And Baby Groot has already cozied up to fans everywhere.

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May 26: "Baywatch"

Many are curious to see how a movie adaptation of the classic TV series will turn out -- but with a sexy cast and alums like David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson returning, we think it might be worth waiting for.

June 2: "Wonder Woman"

Come on, Gal Gadot in a movie that exemplifies female empowerment? We're in! The trailers have been epic so far, and DC fans desperately need a pick-me-up after many were disappointed with "Suicide Squad" and "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice."

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July 21: "Dunkirk"

Christopher Nolan's WWII drama has been on people's radar for a while now, and the film will draw in younger fans with its casting of Harry Styles. The movie boasts a great ensemble, comprised of Tom Hardy, Mark Rylance, Cillian Murphy and James D'Arcy.

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July 28: "The Dark Tower"

Enough of Stephen King's novels have been adapted into film to know that "The Dark Tower" will be great. Idris Elba is set to play The Gunslinger, while Matthew McConaughey will star as The Man in Black.

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August 11: "Baby Driver"

Edgar Wright is a great writer/director, having directed "Shaun of the Dead" and written screenplays for movies like "Ant-Man." Starring Jon Hamm, Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx and Ansel Elgort, "Baby Driver" looks like a solid action thriller.

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October 6: "Blade Runner 2049"

Fans of the original "Blade Runner" had to wait 35 years for a sequel, and it comes with the return of Harrison Ford and the addition of Ryan Gosling -- and it's set way in the future.

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November: "Bad Moms Christmas"

"Bad Moms" delivered one of the most hilarious scenes in a comedy this year (yes, we're talking about the grocery store one) so we're excited about the prospect of another movie featuring the Mila Kunis-Kathryn Hahn-Kristen Bell trifecta.

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Nov. 22: "Murder on the Orient Express"

An awesome cast including Daisy Ridley, Johnny Depp, Judi Dench and Michael Pena will star in the remake of the 1974 film, based on Agatha Christie's famous novel.

December 15: "Star Wars: Episode VIII"

Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) is set to return in the eighth movie, which will also mark Carrie Fisher's last performance as Princess Leia after her untimely death in December. And it's "Star Wars," so of course we're excited!

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Dec 25: "The Greatest Showman"

For fans of P.T. Barnum or anything circus-related, "The Greatest Showman" will be the biographical drama to look out for in 2017. And for fans already deprived of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine... well, he's in this movie!

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2017: "Mother"

"Black Swan" and "Requiem for a Dream" director Darren Aronofsky helms this movie with his girlfriend Jennifer Lawrence starring. It's about a couple whose tranquil life gets disrupted when guests arrive at their home uninvited.

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2017: "Paul Thomas Anderson Untitled Fashion Project"

Movie buffs love seeing any new project by Paul Thomas Anderson. The plot is unknown, but it's described as a drama in London's fashion world in the 1950s. Daniel Day-Lewis stars.

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From superhero movies to WWII dramas, 2017 has great films in store

Scan TheWrap's list of our most anticipated movies of the upcoming year